2012 Legislative Session

Bookmark this page to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the 2012 Minnesota Legislative Session with updates from Ed Eide, Executive Director of MHAM and Ben Ashley-Wurtmann, Policy and Outreach Associate.  Key resources include:

  • Weekly update.  Every week during session and as needed in the off-season, MHAM will be reporting back on some of the critical developments from the Capitol and how people can get involved to help save mental health services in Minnesota.  Check back here for updates mid-week, or you can sign up to receive them by email.
  • Letters to the Editor.  As the session develops, we will post letters to the editor that you can send to your community paper.  Local press is a great way to change the conversation on mental health care.

The Enrollment of Disabled Children into Managed Care is Approaching

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that children with disabilities who are on Medical Assistance (MA) will be enrolled in the managed care plan called Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC). It is anticipated that the enrollment of disabled children into SNBC will take place in late 2012, but DHS is still working to ensure that all counties in the state have a viable provider network of services with at least one managed care organization in the area before enrollment proceeds.

When a schedule for the phased in enrollment is established, DHS will send out a letter to the families and guardians of disabled children with MA in Minnesota. The letter will offer the details and schedule for enrollment, an explanation of health plan services, which health plans are available in your area and inform potential enrollees of their option to opt out of SNBC if that is their choice. If they do not opt out or do not choose a health plan, they will be assigned to the plan or one of the plans that serves the area in which they live.

Is an SNBC plan right for you? You will want to find out which providers are included in the network of the health plan that you are considering. You would probably want to see if your current providers, such as a general practitioner, pediatrician, psychiatrist, or therapist are in the provider network. If they are not in one health plan and your county has another plan, see if they are in that one. If important providers are not in an SNBC plan available to you, you may well want to opt out and remain on fee-for-service care. It will be your choice, but you must notify either DHS by mail or the Disabilities Linkage Line by phone if you do not want to go into SNBC. When the letter arrives explaining the enrollment into SNBC, additional information will be provided regarding the opt-out option.

Adults with disabilities have been enrolling into managed health care plans for some time and most of the feedback that MHAM is receiving is quite positive, but it is still an individual decision and what is right for one person or one family may not be right for their neighbor.

Proposed Legislation

We are beginning to see proposed legislation that was introduced last session but did not pass. Here are some of the legislation that could impact mental health services.

HF1014 This is to allow people on Medical Assistance-Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) to continue to received services past the age of 65. We spoke about this last week. At a time when people have to work longer in order to qualify for Social Security we take
people’s job away simply due to age?

HF1994/SF1804 The DHS omnibus policy bill. Includes allowing corporate adult foster care homes to add a fifth bed until 2014 among other things.

HF2223/SF1721 Better stated licensing requirements for drug and alcohol counselors and provides expectations as to licensing fees, ongoing education and best practices. Also states how people can convert to a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

HF2258 Limits the number of times a person can undergo a 30 day residential chemical dependency treatment to three times in a four year period and four times in their life unless they meet criteria established by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. It also establishes a state-county chemical health navigator to promote better outcomes in the delivery of chemical health services. We hope this navigator will help people complete treatment and stay sober, but we are concerned about the limiting of number of times to go through treatment. There is nothing that proves limiting treatment leads to success.

HF1962/SF1797 Removes the limit of one dental visit a year for any MA recipient with a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, development disability or severe and persistent mental illness.

HF1919/SF1801 Requires all Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) applicants to undergo and pay for drug testing before receiving benefits.

HF2080/SF1833 Limits the time families can receive MFIP from 60 months to 36 months.

Constitutional Amendments

We will have more on this next week.

St. Peter’s Security Hospital

Yesterday, Anne Barry, Deputy Commissioner for DHS, and Dr. Pratt, Interim Medical Director, presented work being done based upon the issues at the Security Hospital. While there is much that is proposed, much still needs to be delivered to change the current "philosophy" of service delivery.

Rep. Loeffler asked if there are any bench marks that can be looked at to evaluate success and change. Roberta Opheim, State Ombudsman for Developmental Disability and Mental Health answered that perhaps as part of the bench marks we ask patients about the services.

Thanks, Roberta, for that idea. We support you and will work toward that!

Legislative Boundaries

The new legislative district maps are out. Check them out because perhaps some exciting comments, etc. may occur. Some legislators have already stated that they will run in a certain district, even if their current residence is not in the new district. Huh?